Sweet Dreams...

Everyone needs a good night’s sleep for a healthy body and mind, but stress and anxiety can often keep you from getting the sleep you need. Can plants help? Some people think they can and my experience says that can also. For example, to get the sleep I and my young boys needed I turned to a common, fragrant plant for help.

I knew lavender was good for relaxation, so I gave my boys lavender baths or sprayed lavender scent on the sheets to help with sleep. Also, my grandma grew lavender in our backyard, picked the flowers and made sachets for the closets and drawers. The scent had a calming effect and I think it helped us all sleep better.

Following are some plants I found in an article titled "Best Plant to keep in your Bedroom to help you sleep". They are reported to help you get the sleep you need. Why not give them a try!

Aloe (Aloe vera) – Aloe purifies the air by producing oxygen at night, making you feel restful. It reproduces easily. So, if you buy one plant, you will soon have a plant for every room in your house. Give it lots of sunlight.

Jasmine (Jasminumofficinale) – Since ancient times, jasmine scent is known for relaxation. Having a pot of jasmine in your bedroom or spraying jasmine fragrance will help you have a restful sleep with little movement during the night.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytumcomosum) – This plant is also an air purifier. It has the ability to remove harmful formaldehyde from the air you breath. Fresher air will give you a good night’s sleep.

Gardenia or Cape Jasmine (Gardeniajasminoides) – Just like sleeping pills, the gardenia plant has the ability to help you sleep. If you use mood enhancers or sleeping pills, use a gardenia plant for treating anxiety, insomnia and poor sleep.

English Ivy (Hederahelix) - English ivy is known to improve allergies or asthma by cleaning the air. So it helps with those breathing problems, which means a better night’s sleep. This is a trailing plant, so keep it on a tall shelf or hanging basket.